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The Voice in My Head

by Beth Kane

If you look at your timeline on commontales as I just did, I'll bet that you'll see a cluster of stories in one short time frame that tells a lot about the kind of person you turned out to be.

I always thought that my "voice" was that of a 7-year-old. That's how all my memories play out in my head, but maybe I'm more mature than that. Looking at my timeline, I think I may really be a 10-year-old . You should see the wrinkles on the rest of me, however.

I'd ask the experts in child development where I work, but I think that some of them think editors have chosen a rather useless profession and would think it was a weird premise. Some colleagues argue with me over the use of commas. which, by the way, they sprinkle like salt and pepper.  It drives me nuts!

Still, most are happy that I give their work a second look, and they've taught me a lot about their areas of expertise and also about humility. Because of them, I now use an occasional exclamation mark, as I realize I just did when I wrote, "It drives me nuts!"

I didn't use exclamation marks for the 10 years at my job, but finally the people at work convinced me that (sometimes)  you just need to loosen up. Actually, now I kind of like exclamation marks. But I must admit, that like cayenne pepper, a little goes a long way. I'll stick with one, like "Yikes!" 

So, check your timeline. Maybe you'll discover how old your voice is. When mine gets to be 12, I'll give up the word "Anyway." You'll see it in most of my stories, because, try as I might, that 7-year-old in my head just likes it.

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""Schoolhouse Rock had a very deep impact on me! Remember, 'Interjection for excitement and emotion! (yada,yada) We're always excited in child development! But funny, you should mention a timeline. I told a group of teens at Crockett County High School in Alamo, TN that I always say 'we' (addressing teens) because I am stuck in my teen years. As I inspire young people to persevere in spite of obstacles, I realize that's why I relate well with them. As for you Beth, it's o.k. to be 7 years old and growing older. Look at it this way, you can be the 'Doogie Howser' of journalism!""

by Lynette Love 

"Lynette, I love that idea. Somehow Doogie Howser seems perfect for me."

by Beth Kane